Hanoi: Vietnam has given the green light for SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service to operate in the country to expand high-speed connectivity across the Southeast Asian nation.
The Ministry of Science and Technology has granted a license to Starlink’s local unit to provide both fixed and mobile satellite internet services. The approval also covers the use of radio frequencies and related equipment, clearing key regulatory hurdles for the company’s entry into the market.
The move follows earlier indications from the Vietnamese government that it would permit Starlink to run its services on a trial basis. Although the license has now been issued, local reports indicate that it remains unclear when the service will formally launch.
Starlink, operated by US-based aerospace company SpaceX, provides broadband internet through a network of low-Earth orbit satellites. The service is designed to reach remote and underserved areas where traditional infrastructure is limited or unreliable.
The approval comes at a time of growing diplomatic engagement between Hanoi and Washington. Vietnam’s top leader, To Lam, is expected to visit the United States next week to attend the inaugural meeting of President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative, a forum aimed at addressing global conflicts. Although the trip has yet to be formally announced, it is widely anticipated.
Meanwhile, Vietnam and the United States are continuing negotiations over a potential trade agreement. Talks gained urgency after Washington imposed 20 percent tariffs on Vietnamese goods in August. The two sides recently concluded their sixth round of discussions, but no deal has been finalized.
For Vietnam, the introduction of satellite-based internet services could strengthen digital infrastructure, particularly in rural and mountainous regions. For SpaceX, entry into Vietnam adds another market to its expanding global footprint as competition intensifies in the satellite broadband sector.
